NCJ Number
213702
Date Published
2005
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study compared a young offender group with a control group in terms of risk and protective factors.
Abstract
Main conclusions indicate that risk and protective factors are not fixed and change with time. Findings also suggest that even in youth with many risk factors, protective factors can still be identified and worked with in order to improve youth’s outcomes. In terms of the comparative analysis, youth from the offender group were more likely to be male, older, and from a minority ethnic background than youth from the control group. Youth in the offender group were also more likely to report drug use, more risk factors, and fewer protective factors than youth in the control group. Both groups of youth reported simultaneous risk and protective factors occurring over time. Risk and protective factors thus do not appear to exist independently from one another but to be engaged, rather, in a complex interrelationship. It was also found that young people could have high levels of risk but not turn to offending behavior. Treatment and other approaches working with at-risk youth should recognize the interconnection among risk and protective factors. A self-report questionnaire on drug use and offending behavior was completed by 1,283 young people and interviews were conducted with 137 young people in various settings. Offender group participants were recruited from a variety of locations including secure children’s homes and young offender institutions while control participants were recruited from schools. The questionnaire assessed family and home environment; school and work; lifestyle and residence; smoking, drinking, and drug behaviors; health; attitudes and behaviors; and thoughts about the future. Data analysis involved the calculations of total risk and protective factors for each participant. Future research should focus on resilience in high-risk groups of youth. Diagrams